LUXOR temple

The Avenue of SphinxesLuxor Temple, dedicated to the Theban Triad and the God Amun, stands on the east bank of the Nile about 1.6 miles south of Karnak. Built by Amenhotep III, Ramses II, and later refined under Tutankhamun, it embodies the splendor of the New Kingdom. Buried beneath 30 feet (9 m) of sand for over two thousand years, its entrance was uncovered in the 1880s, revealing pylons 78 feet (24 m) high and 214 feet (65 m) wide, carved with scenes of Ramses II at the Battle of Kadesh. Colossal statues of Ramses II flank the gateway, once paired with two 80‑foot (25‑m) obelisks—one still in Luxor, the other now in Paris. The Avenue of Sphinxes is a 1.6 mile (2.7 kilometers) grand processional route lined with more than 1,000 Sphinx statues that have been excavated between 1949 and 2000 that now reconnects Luxor and Karnak temples. Within the Luxor complex, the Great Colonnade Hall stretches nearly 61 meters (200 feet), its 28 columns rising 21 feet and covered in intricate reliefs was completed under Tutankhamun around 1330 B.C.

The Avenue of Sphinxes was the grand processional road linking Karnak Temple, dedicated to Amun‑Ra, with Luxor Temple, the center of kingship and renewal in ancient Thebes. Stretching 2.7 kilometers (1.6 miles) and 76 meters wide (250 feet) it originally featured more than 1,350 sphinx statues—either human‑headed forms symbolizing royal protection or ram‑headed forms honoring Amun‑Ra’s strength and fertility.

The avenue was more than a roadway, it served as a sacred corridor for festivals, rituals, and royal ceremonies, guiding participants from the earthly realm toward the divine. Its construction spanned centuries and several dynasties. Amenhotep III began the project in the 14th century BCE with rows of human‑headed sphinxes. Ramses II and Ramses III expanded and embellished the route, and Nectanebo I completed it in the 4th century BCE, adding many ram‑headed sphinxes to reinforce Amun‑Ra’s presence.

Luxor Temple was the largest religious center in ancient Egypt, built by eleven pharaohs named Ramesses, starting in the 13th century BCE. The entrance pylon is flanked by two seated granite colossi of Ramesses II (The Great) both colossus is 45 feet (14 meters) in height, and topped with the Double Crown of Upper and Lower Egypt. The pink granite obelisk, of Ramesses II (The Great), is 82 feet high (25 meters) and is still standing from the 13th century BCE, it is one of a pair, sadly Muhammad Ali Pasha, the Viceroy of Egypt gifted the right‑hand Luxor obelisk to France in 1830 to cement a political alliance, secure French military and technical support for his modernization program, and honor Jean‑François Champollion, whose decipherment of hieroglyphs had opened Egypt’s ancient past to Europe. The obelisk was shipped between 1831–33 and raised in the Place de la Concorde in 1836.

The Luxor Obelisk at the Place de la Concorde, Paris

A painting by the French artist Francois Charles Cecile in 1800, shows the entrance pylon of Luxor Temple flanked by two 80‑foot (25‑m) pink granite obelisks, commissioned by Ramesses II

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The second obelisk from Luxor at the Place de la Concorde in Paris, relocated in 1836

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The Obelisk of Luxor: An Original 19th C. Lithograph by David Roberts, shows only one obelisk, dated: 1848

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The Luxor Obelisk at the Place de la Concorde, carved around 1250 BCE during the reign of Ramesses II, the right‑hand obelisk of Luxor Temple once framed the temple’s monumental entrance. In the 1820s, Charles X, eager to enrich France’s newly founded Egyptian Museum, sought an obelisk as a centerpiece of Egyptian art. At the same time, Jean‑François Champollion, celebrated for his decipherment of hieroglyphs, visited Luxor and urged the French government to acquire these particular obelisks over any others. A custom-built vessel, the Louxor, transported the monument from Egypt to France. It arrived in 1833 and was erected in 1836 by King Louis‑Philippe at the heart of the Place de la Concorde—a site fraught with revolutionary memory as the principal stage of the guillotine. The obelisk offered a politically neutral yet prestigious symbol capable of transforming the square’s emotional charge. Tragically Champollion never saw its installation; he died in 1832, while the obelisk was still en route between Luxor and Alexandria. In 1839, a new pedestal was added, engraved with diagrams illustrating the extraordinary engineering required for its transport and erection. In 1998, France crowned the obelisk with a gold‑leaf pyramidion, funded by Yves Saint Laurent, replacing the ancient cap—likely bronze, gold, or electrum—stolen around 500 BCE. With pedestal and cap, the monument rises to 33.37 m (109 ft). Yes, the obelisk’s rightful home is Luxor Temple. But its presence in Paris—framed by the sweep of the Champs‑Élysées and the geometry of the Place de la Concorde—remains undeniably magnificent.

The Luxor Obelisk at the Place de la Concorde, Paris

The Colossal statues of Ramesses II guarding the entrance of Luxor Temple for over 3,300 years

Colossal seated statue of Ramesses II at the first pylon gateway entrance of Luxor Temple, he is depicted wearing the traditional pschent (Double Crown of Upper and Lower Egypt), while the hieroglyphics carved on his shoulders and throne declare his titles and divine right to rule.

One of the four standing colossal granite statues of Ramesses II guarding the entrance of Luxor Temple while projecting royal authority and signify the divine legitimacy of the pharaoh during Opet festivals.

The second Colossal seated statue of Ramesses II at the first pylon gateway entrance of Luxor Temple, he is depicted wearing the royal nemes headcloth topped with the Double Crown of Upper and Lower Egypt

One of the four standing colossal granite statues of Ramesses II guarding the entrance of Luxor Temple, topped with the Double Crown of Upper and Lower Egypt, the pylon walls are covered in reliefs depicting Ramesses II's military campaigns and offerings to the gods.

One of the four standing colossal granite statues of Ramesses II guarding the entrance of Luxor Temple, topped with the Double Crown of Upper and Lower Egypt, the pylon walls are carved in sunken relief depicting Ramesses at the battle of Kadesh.

One of the four standing colossal granite statues of Ramesses II standing guard at the entrance of the first pylon of Luxor Temple, the sculpture depicts Ramesses wearing the high Hedjet (the white crown of Upper Egypt), placed strategically near pylons and gateways to project the divine power, presence, and royal authority

After you enter through the first pylon gateway you enter Ramesses II’s Peristyle Courtyard of papyrus bud columns and greeted by one of two seated colossal statues of Ramesses II guarding the entrance of the Luxor Temple colonnade, the massive black granite figure depicts Ramesses II wearing the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt, with the traditional false beard broken off at the base

The royal carved granite sculpture of Queen Nefertari standing at the base of the colossal Ramesses II, wearing a detailed wig and traditional headdress with Cow Horns symbolizing fertility, the solar disk encircled by a uraeus cobra symbolize rebirth, divine authority and the sun god Ra.

On the right side of the entrance is another colossal seated statue of Ramesses II renowned for its towering size and historical significance, located at the second pylon guarding the entrance of the Great Colonnade of Amenhotep III

1.) After you enter through the pylon gateway you enter Ramesses II’s Peristyle Courtyard of papyrus bud columns and colossal statuary,

2.) The great Court of Rameses II is 188 feet (57 m) long and 168 feet (51 m) wide. Seventy four papyrus columns, with bud capitals surrounding it,

3.) In the Northwest corner of the court there is a shrine to Thutmose III, while in the southern part of the court you are surrounded by standing granite colossal statuary of Ramses II, Luxor Temple

A broken statue of a young King Tutankhamun (1342 BCE– 1323 BCE) and his consort Ankesenamun, carved sand stone, Eighteenth Dynasty, Luxor Temple

Ramesses II, also known as Ramesses the Great, (1303 BCE–1213 BCE) featured in the temple court, carved limestone, 19th Dynasty, Luxor Temple

Statues in a seated pose, of King Tutankhamun (1342 BCE– 1323 BCE) and his wife Queen Ankhesenamun, carved sand stone, Eighteenth Dynasty, Luxor Temple

1.) The Great Court of Ramses II within Luxor Temple, the standing colossi statues are of Pharaoh Ramses II, the columns are massive papyrus-style pillars, 3th century BCE

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The entrance of the Great Colonnade of Amenhotep III at Luxor temple, flanked by two seated granite colossi of Ramesses II, both 45 feet (14 meters) in height, and topped with the Double Crown of Upper and Lower Egypt

I next to the Sitting Ramesses II Colossus, carved granite inside Luxor Temple, sits at 45 feet (14 meters) high

The other side of the entrance of the Great Colonnade of Amenhotep III at Luxor Temple, measures 148 feet long, has seven pairs of 52 foot (16m) high open-flower papyrus columns, which still support their huge architrave blocks

1.) The Court of Amonhotep III measures 148 feet long (45 meters) by 184 feet wide (56 meters), with double rows of papyrus columns on three sides,

2.) The Court of Amonhotep III leads into the Hypostyle Hall, which has 32 papyrus columns, arranged in four rows of eight columns,

3.) At the rear of the Hypostyle Hall are four small rooms and an antechamber leading to the birth room, the chapel of Alexander the Great and the sanctuary

1.) Aisles of towering papyrus columns at the Court of Amenhotep III, 1392 BCE,

2.) The large sandstone columns of Luxor Temple are part of the Great Colonnade Hall or the Sun Court of Amenhotep III, featuring characteristic papyrus-shaped capitals.

3.) The aisles of towering papyrus columns were built by pharaohs Amenhotep III and Ramses II, a minaret is visible, highlighting the temple's enduring history

1.) Relief carving of pharaoh Amenhotep III receiving the Ankh the "breath of life" from Horus the falcon-headed god of the sky, Luxor Temple

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1.) Relief carving of Alexander the Great, Crowned and Blessed by Amun-Ra at the Temple of Luxor

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1.) Relief from the shrine of Mut, part of the triple barque shrines of Tuthmosis III, is part of the dedication to the god Amun-Re, Luxor Temple

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Headless Ramesses II, 1230 BCE

Headless Statue of Isis in the shrine to Serapis, created by Emperor Hadrian (76-138 AD)

Headless Statue of Pharaoh Merenptah, (1213-1204 BCE) son of Ramesses II

Historical photos and Artwork of Luxor Temple Early photographs and artwork of Luxor Temple reveal how dramatically the site changed before modern excavation. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the entrance pylons, obelisks, colossal statues, and even village houses stood half‑buried under deep sand and debris. These images capture the temple’s monumental columns and courts when they were still emerging from the desert, offering a direct visual record unlike written accounts. Each photograph and artwork freezes a moment of discovery, becoming a powerful, enduring symbol that confirms the reality of Egypt’s past rather than leaving it to imagination.

Partially buried Luxor Temple entrance with buried colossal statues and the minaret of the Abou el-Haggag Mosque, Photographer: Francis Frith, Dated: 1857, Source: NYC Public Library, 🅮Public Domain

A colossal statue at the entrance to the Temple of Luxor, Tinted lithograph, Artist: David Roberts (1796–1864), Dated: 1838, 🅮Public Domain

Camels and a local handler with papyrus-bud columns in the Sun Court, Luxor temple, photographer: Antonio Beato, Dated: 1880, Source: NYC Public Library, 🅮Public Domain

Luxor temple, grande colonnade du palais, buried in 30 feet of sand, Photographer: Maxime Du Camp, Date: 1849, Medium: Salted paper print, 🅮Public Domain

Pylon entrance of the Luxor Temple, buried in 30 feet of sand, photograph by Félix Bonfils, date: 1870, Source: NYC Public Library, 🅮Public Domain

Post card, Entrance Pylon of Ramesses II, Luxor Temple, 1895, Source: NYC Public Library, 🅮Public Domain

Grand Entrance to the Temple at Luxor, Dated: 1848, Tinted lithograph, Artist; David Roberts RA (1796-1864), 🅮Public Domain

1.) Entrance to the Great Temple Luxor, Dated: 1857, Photographer: Francis Frith, Source: NYC Public Library, 🅮Public Domain

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Luxor colonnade, 1890, Photographer: Zangaki (1860s-1920s) Source: NYC Public Library, 🅮Public Domain

Statue of Pharaoh Ramesses II, carved sandstone, Photo: Antonio Beato, Dated: 1880, Luxor, Source: NYC Public Library, 🅮Public Domain

Thèbes. Louqsor. Groupe de colonnes dans le palais, Dated: 1850, Photographer: Maxime Du Camp (French, 1822 - 1894), Luxor, Source: NYC Public Library, 🅮Public Domain

An engraving of the surviving red granite Luxor obelisk still standing at the entrance, and its twin removed to Paris, published: 1884, as Picturesque Palestine, Sinai and Egypt, Source: NYC Public Library, 🅮Public Domain

Alexander the Great offering a jar of milk (a symbol of life) to deity Min/Amun-Ra shown in his characteristic ithyphallic form with an erect phallus symbolizing fertility, Dated: 1924, Photographer: Rudolf Lehnert, Barque shrine, Luxor, Source: NYC Public Library, 🅮Public Domain

Engraving depicts the Entrance to Luxor Temple, by French artist; Dominique Vivant Denon, published: 1802, Voyage dans la basse et la haute Egypte, Source: NYC Public Library, 🅮Public Domain

Luxor colorized photo post card, Photographer: Francis Frith, Group of 4 Egyptian views, Dated: 1860, albumen print, Source: NYC Public Library, 🅮Public Domain

View at Luxor columns partially buried in sand before full excavation, Dated: 1857, albumen print, photographer: Francis Frith, Source: NYC Public Library, 🅮Public Domain

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